Hickory PTA Roundup

September 2024

Hickory PTA Roundup September 2024

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From the PTA President

Hello Hickory Hounds and Families!


As we head into September, I want to remind everyone how important your involvement is. Whether it’s through volunteer hours, donations, or PTA membership, every bit helps the Hickory PTA support our community.


This month, we’ll be recruiting volunteers for Adventures in Art (AIA), the Library, and Room Representatives. These student loved PTA-run programs directly benefit your child’s classroom and rely on parent, family, and community volunteers. In recent years, finding enough volunteers has become more challenging. We understand that volunteering is a commitment, but without your support, we can't ensure every classroom gets the help it needs. So please consider signing up for these volunteer opportunities.


Our first Association Meeting of the 2024-2025 school year will be on September 26th and we will start with a Hickory Family Night themed around the National PTA’s Reflection Art Program. This year’s Reflection theme is Accepting Imperfection. We invite all of our Hickory families to attend with their students so that they can learn about the program and hopefully get inspired to enter into the competition.


With gratitude,

Amy Brownstone

Calendar at a Glance

September 11, 2024 - PTA Board Meeting

September 12, 2024 - Back to School Night (1st-5th)

September 26, 2024 - Picture Day

September 26, 2024 - Family Night & Association Meeting #1

October 4, 2024 - Movie Night

October 11, 2024 - No School

October 14, 2024 - No School

October 21-25, 2024 - Red Ribbon Week

October 31, 2024 - Halloween Parade

Emergency Kits

At the beginning of each year, parents are required to supply a personal Emergency Kit for each child. Families may put together their own, or may purchase a pre-assembled Emergency Kit from the PTA in person for $10 on the following day, while supplies last:


Thursday, September 12 at the 1st-5th grade Back to School Night

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For more information on the pre-assembled kits or for information on making your own, please ​visit: https://www.hickorypta.net/emergencykits

Fund Photos Fundraiser

Support Hickory Elementary PTA through our photo fundraiser! Join Fund Photos in October and November 2024 for a classic family photo session in the South Bay.

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For $50 (plus a processing fee), each family or group of up to 6 people will receive a 15 minute portrait session and 2 digital images of their choice and Hickory PTA receives a $50 donation!


Additional digital images and prints available for purchase.


BOOK YOUR SESSION:

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/0d47938e/appointment/65130862?appointmentTypeIds[]=65130862

✅ Back to School Checklist

Have you completed your Hickory PTA Back to School Checklist yet?

Adventures in Art: Become a Docent!

The Hickory PTA is seeking enthusiastic individuals to become Adventures in Art (AIA) docents for the 2024-2025 school year. No prior art experience needed—just a passion for art or volunteering! As an AIA docent, you'll receive training to teach five fine art projects throughout the year. This program is not funded by the school district, but by the PTA. PTA provides all supplies, lessons, and docent volunteers. We absolutely need volunteers to keep our beloved AIA program successful. Interested? Sign up today at hickorypta.net/adventures-in-art and help us inspire the next generation of artists!


For more information about the Adventures in Art program and its projects, visit https://www.aiatorrance.com/.

Reflections Contest 2024-2025

The 2024-25 Reflections theme is "Accepting Imperfection".

Hickory PTA’s Reflections Contest will be announced in September and run until October. Stay tuned for details, including a Reflections workshop and info about the application process.


Visit https://www.hickorypta.net/pta-reflections for more info.

Save the Date: Movie Night

Save the Date! The Hickory PTA Annual Movie Night will be on Friday, October 4th, 2024. For more information, and to vote on the movie, please visit: https://www.hickorypta.net/events.

Library

The Hickory PTA Library will open beginning on Monday, September 23, 2024. Students will be assigned library times according to their class schedule. Prior to the library opening, please make sure to fill out the Library Permission Form for this year HERE by Friday, September 20th, 2024.


Interested in becoming a library volunteer?

More info and sign ups can be found by visiting https://www.hickorypta.net/library


A volunteer's main task involves helping with book check-ins and check-outs during your child's library time, for about 30 minutes once a week. We are also looking for volunteers for occasional tasks such as book repairs and covering books.

5th Grade Committee

Calling all 5th grade parents! We’re looking for parents to join our 5th Grade Committee. We’ll be working throughout the year on fundraising and planning 5th grade exclusive events. If you’re interested in helping on this fun committee, please email 5th Grade Committee Chair Amy Brownstone at yay5thgrade@hickorypta.net.

Volunteers

We welcome any amount of time and effort that you have to offer! Our school events, programs and activities would not be possible without our amazing volunteers.


Please fill out this volunteer interest form and email Hickory PTA Volunteer coordinator at volunteers@hickorypta.net if you have any questions.

Thank you for purchasing your spiritwear!

Thank you to all the families who purchased Spiritwear during our Fall sale. The PTA Spiritwear Store is now closed for the season. The store will reopen in the Spring.

Fundraising for PTA

Direct Donation:

When you make a donation, you not only help support our student’s experience on campus, but you also allow our PTA to do GREAT THINGS for them.

Please visit our Direct Donations page for details—and donate today!


Membership:

Did you know...PTA membership is open to everybody: parents, students, teachers, staff, relatives, community supporters, and local businesses! It's a great way to support Hickory PTA and be a part of making decisions and voting on what matters to you! All PTA Members can pick up their exclusive 2025 membership gift at Back to School Nights, while supplies last. Please help us to meet our membership goal of 425 Hickory PTA Members by renewing or joining for the 2024-2025 school year.

Join online today: https://jointotem.com/ca/torrance/hickory-pta.

August 2024 Recap

Annual Registration Day:

We were thrilled to welcome so many new and returning families to the Hickory campus for our Annual Registration Day. Families had the opportunity to meet with the PTA and staff, purchase Emergency Kits, confirm their registration, receive Back Gate tags, and tour the school. Hickory PTA's favorite vendor, Kona Ice, was on site, offering shaved ice for purchase. Enjoying a refreshing treat was a great way to beat the heat and support the PTA at the same time. Thank you to Kona Ice for the generous donation of $420 to the Hickory PTA. Thank you to our volunteers: Amy Brownstone (Registration Day Committee Chair), Anthony Brownstone, Beatrice Brownstone (5th grade), Xindy Holliday, Keri Kaba-Dien, Yelli Ramos, Brittany Resendez, Dominic Tran (Madrona, 7th Grade), and Stacey Wong. Thank you to our staff: Cindy Leach, Heather Whitten, Nancy Gutierrez, and Tania Nava. A very special thank you to our kindergarten playdate organizers and volunteers: Lina Awshee, Sawa Funai, and Hickory Girl Scout Troop #1201.


Staff Back to School Lunch:

Every year the PTA sponsors a luncheon for our teachers and staff to kick off the new school year. This year the luncheon was held on August 21st and volunteers served lunch and ice cream to our Hickory staff of nearly 100! Special thank you to Keri Kaba-Dien (chair), Amy Brownstone, Melissa Para, Carol Shin, and Stacey Wong.

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